Rather than be tempted to hide my failings, I thought it would be healthier for myself, and more entertaining for others, to share them.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

I'm Lucky I Haven't Run Someone Over

I've had no less than three utterly stupid moments behind the wheel of a car in the last month. I don't normally consider myself to be an awful driver, but at this point, I have to consider the possibility.

Two were at least partially the result of heavy fog. Driving at night, I thought I was taking my exit, only to realize as my headlights lit up the green exit sign 10 feet in front of me, that I had passed the exit and was cutting across the shoulder. To avoid the sign, I cut over like a maniac. It was only by good fortune that no one had already moved up to occupy that lane, or I would have run them right off the road, because I panicked and did not look. Praise the Lord, no loss of life, time, or treasure resulted from my folly.

You would think after that, I would have slowed down when I encountered another foggy day. But I apparently had not learned my lesson yet. With no such perilous consequences, my second foggy day experience involved completely missing my turn - twice. I had to invent a new way home to accommodate my utter lack of effective foggy-weather driving, but at least I didn't risk anyone's life. I guess I did learn something from my earlier mistake.

Yesterday, however, I cannot blame on the fog at all - other than the fog in my head after getting back from a long road trip last week and still being a little out of sorts. It was clear and sunny. I had set my cruise control to my accustomed 5 mph over the speed limit, and was cruising along the freeway, heading home from work. I noticed that the river was flooding and began to ponder whether it was high enough to cover the bike path yet. I didn't realize that I was focusing more and more on the scenery and less and less on the road in front of me, until I glanced up and saw the back end of an old Taurus station wagon. I hit the brakes pretty hard when I realized it was only going 55. I didn't have time to even check my blind spot, let alone change lanes. Whatever excitement it generated for me, I'm sure the driver of the Taurus had some choice words on his lips when he saw me roar up on him like that; and his wife ought to send me the cleaning bill for his shorts.

And my dad thought the red light I ran while visiting him was the worst driving I've done lately...

I don't say it lightly that I praise the Lord when these things happen and there are no consequences, because I know sometimes people lose their lives when they make mistakes like mine. Yet I also know that if every mistake someone made on the road resulted in the worst case scenerio, there would be no one left to drive; and the glory for that goes to God.

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11